The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-10-05
The 9ailg 8nlletin,
WEDNESDAY. OCT. 5, 1887.
VITAL SUGAR QUESTIONS.


The following we have taken from
the ILLUSTRATED South" journal
devoted to the interests of the
Southern States of America.
The vast strides which have been
made in the beet root sugar industry
Of Europe are producing a change
which but few have contemplated,
and the subject is worthy of due
consideration by all nations whose
people are large consumers, and yet
possessing immense areas of land
capable of being made to produce
sugar yielding plants, but are now
entirely or comparatively non-pro-
ductive. AT present about % per
cent Of the revenue on imports is
derived from sugar and molasses.
What would the result be were
sugar put on the free list? The
lands now cultivated in cane would
soon be partial wastes, the plant be-
come almost extinct, the machinery
worthless, and ere long the con
sumer would awaken to the fact that
he was then entirely at the mercy of
foreign producers, who could enrich
themselves by large export bounties.
1t would take years to remedy the
evil; but during that time dear
sugars would be the result. The
reiiners would probably be crippled,
as the Cuban and other planters
would send us high grade, instead
of refining sugar by adopting i'm
proved methods ; and the Europeans,
English and Continental, would sup
ply us with all the loaf and granu-
lated we could pay for and consume
Twenty-Five years ago who would
have believed that sugars would be
sold in 1887 for their present price!
The amount that can be produced
in the United States in less time will
supply the nation.
The judicious rotation of crops,
improvement in seed, scientific ferti-
lization, and the constant adoption
of improved methods have caused
rapid strides to be made; but the
industry could never have reached
its present gigantic proportions but
for the wise fostering care of the
several continental nations.
The vital question to be decided
by the people through their repre-
sentatives is, shall the United States
cease TO produce sugar from all
sources, or shall such action be
taken as will justify those who are
now or may be engaged in the bust
ness TO, by all the means now known
and experience prompt, increase the
amount per acre, and the area to be
planted. Viewed from an agricul-
tural standpoint the field for i'm
provement is simply immense, and
from that of the manufacturer it is
as great, if not greater; therefore
the sugar producer may get hope if
the fundamental changes are not
retarded too long.
Where annual experiments have
been made by some, for o term of
years, it has been demonstrated that
under ordinarily favorable circum-
stances from 5000 to 1900 pounds
of sugar can on at least a portion of
an estate be made per acre by cult
walton, proper drainage and intelli-
gent fertilizing. AS for the latter,
in some cases at least, had the
planter studied compound interest,
and the factor known the rudiments
of agricultural chemistry, more
sugar and at less cost would have
been produced, Maximum results
never will be obtained until more
suitable fertilizers come into general
use. As our machinery is gener-
ally defective, for some time to
come the planter must partially
diffuse in the field, as his tonnage
would be so small with juice at 10 .
"Beaume," and his extraction so
poor that loss would result, there
fore he must increase his tonnage to
a certain extent to enable him to
get larger amount of juice even at
a somewhat lower "Beaume." But
great care must be taken that the
increase of tonnages is not produced
by a fertilizer too strong in am
monia, and the soil deficient in solu-
ble potash, and phosphoric acid, for
under such circumstances very poor
juice, and little sugar would result.
To insure good crops of cane there
should be more soluble phosphates
and potash in the soil than the
growing crop requires. Experience
alone can demonstrate the average
annual amount of ammonia to be
used. Ratoons require more than
plant cane. BY the adoption of
tramways and central factories, the
season for working of canes can be
prolonged by cutting, pording and
covering canes instead of windrowv
ing as formerly.
The necessity of economical Dro-